Who are we?

Originally founded in 1993, Zephyr TEC has become a leader in speech recognition software and digital dictation implementation, training, and support. Our mission is to assist our clients to be successful in using speech recognition software in their workplace for increased productivity, loss prevention and to return-to-work. With digital dictation software, we can help you install, configure, and then train your users for maximal efficiency and productivity. Our team includes expert trainers, programmers, coordinators, administrators and executives.

What we do...

ZEPHYR:

Training – We provide training with speech recognition and digital dictation software. As seasoned users of speech recognition software, our expert staff of trainers have tested and customized the software in the most complex platforms. We develop our own training materials that are used by many resellers of Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Evaluation – Whether it’s a formal evaluation of how appropriate speech recognition may be for a particular job, or a brief study of a particular system, we can help you understand the technical constraints. We think evaluation works both ways – we need to understand what you need so our advice can be accurate and useful, but we also need to give you enough information that you can understand the choices you have.

Consultation – We have implemented speech recognition and digital dictation with individuals, small firms, large companies, and Fortune 500 behemoths. That gives us the experience to know that they are all different – we can also discuss what did (or didn’t) work elsewhere, but .each client deserves their own plan to fit what they need. In person, online, or by phone – we’re going to get you the information you need to make the right choice.

Why Zephyr-TEC?

We use our products every day to do our job! Zephyr-TEC’s professional trainers and programmers will teach you the commands, dictation style and software tricks to get the best results with speech software. Our program coordinators work with you to assess your needs, develop the right training program for you and follow your progress throughout your training. Our technical support will help solve problems as they arise. With the advent of desktop sharing technology, our technical support team can assist you with tricky problems by remotely accessing your computer long after your training is completed.

When do you need us?

Anytime you think, "This could be done faster by voice!"

If you are planning to automate transcription or increase productivity of workflow and documentation call us, we may have surprising solutions. If you experience pain with typing, you definitely need us. Our training programs will help you do your job pain free!

Renee L. Griffith, CEO and original Founder of Zephyr-TEC, became disabled in 1991 with DeQuervaine's disease bilaterally while working as a senior staff accountant for a Bay Area software company. In 1993, with the help of her vocational rehabilitation counselor, she developed a self-employment plan that utilized speech recognition software to start Zephyr-TEC, now a global leader in the successful implementation of speech recognition software. She is an invited speaker at many regional and national events involving employee safety, disability and ergonomics and is considered an industry expert on the subject of speech software. She actively uses speech software and still trains clients in order to ensure that the services provided by her company are of the best quality and produce the best results.

Linda Harren has been involved with computers for many years. Her training experience is extensive and includes a wide range of programs. She really enjoys teaching and helping to make someone's life easier by showing them the quickest way to accomplish a task. She learned most of what she knows by trial and error. She took some training courses to improve her skills and found that she preferred to be in front of the class. She was soon doing just that. She had not experienced the speech recognition software until coming to Zephyr-TEC and found that she was able to learn and adapt to it very quickly. Now she couldn't be without it.

The most important aspect of attempting a new application or product is the amount of motivation that you have to succeed. Without the drive to be adventurous and—well—just plain being nosy, you can't get too far with it. Training is an important part of this adventure because it allows you to avoid the pitfalls that are always in an unfamiliar application or product and gets you up to speed quickly.

Chris became injured in 1991 with bilateral carpal tunnel and bilateral ulnar nerve problems. In 1994 she was no longer able to continue working in her position as a Patient Account Representative at a hospital and was taken off work by her doctor. As part of her vocational rehabilitation plan, Chris was given the opportunity to utilize speech recognition software. After completing her vocational rehabilitation plan, Chris was offered a position with another Dragon NaturallySpeaking reseller and has worked in the business since 1997. Zephyr-TEC acquired the voice software and training portion of Chris's former company in June 2002 and offered Chris a position as a trainer. Due to her injuries Chris is a daily user of Dragon NaturallySpeaking software.

John Collier

Position:

Senior Instructor/Programmer/Webmaster

Training since:

1998

Degrees:

BA Math/Physics, Carleton College MA Astronomy, University of Washington

Certifications:

Dragon Certified Instructor Scansoft Dragon Certified Instructor

Employee since:

1998

Profile:

I believe that education never ends. All knowledge is inter-related, and one should never stop striving to understand everything (though that is obviously an impossible task). I enjoy both aspects of training; the sharing of my knowledge with others as well as the learning about them and their job. The best thing about Zephyr-TEC is the relaxed atmosphere and team environment.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, I received a B.F.A. from Cleveland Institute of Art. In 1982 I moved to the San Francisco Bay area to pursue an art career. I held various jobs over the years while exhibiting in galleries and competitions. In 1993 my life drastically changed when I had a brain aneurysm which left me partially paralyzed and unable to use my left-hand. Employment, which had always been so easy to obtain, now held few prospects.

I was given the opportunity to work for Zephyr-TEC in 1995. At that time, the only speech recognition software available was "discrete speech," where text was dictated one word at a time. The process was laborious and only people with a compelling need would consider using speech recognition. My job, both as an instructor and personally, was to help injured workers find ways to use the technology as efficiently as possible. Fortunately for all of us, software and computers themselves have improved dramatically.

I now live in Sedona, Arizona where I continue to train injured workers as well as professionals who wish to use speech recognition as a productivity tool. Most recently, I am developing courseware and the Web-based training programs for Zephyr-TEC.